Sue Hellman and Debra Swain are teachers at the White Rock Learning Centre in Surrey, BC. This is an alternative secondary school (grades 10 to 12) for at-risk students who are either looking for greater success in an individualized learning setting or who have made themselves unwelcome in mainstream schools. We also offer some adult ed. to students returning to upgrade courses, finish their grad...

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Sue Hellman and Debra Swain are teachers at the White Rock Learning Centre in Surrey, BC. This is an alternative secondary school (grades 10 to 12) for at-risk students who are either looking for greater success in an individualized learning setting or who have made themselves unwelcome in mainstream schools. We also offer some adult ed. to students returning to upgrade courses, finish their grad requirements, or take the GED. Sue and Deb have over 50 years of experience between them.

For 13 years Debra taught Social Studies 8-12 and Advanced Placement Geography at Elgin Park Secondary near White Rock. During the past 2 years she has been at the Learning Centre doing everything from Planning 10 to Math 10E (non- academic) to Geography 12. She has also dedicated her time to developing a leadership program and an environmental club for students.

Sue is the Math/Science and GED person at the Centre. Before transferring from mainstream, she was at Johnston Heights and then Guildford Park Secondary (1986 to 2004) teaching: Math 8-11, Science 8, Earth Science 11, Learning Assistance (both resource room and collaborative-consultative models), and Peer Tutoring. She started the Applied Tech Co-op -- a one semester, math/science/work experience program for grade 11's who want to use school as a springboard to better employment opportunities.

Having worked together in the original Work and Learn program in the early 1980's, Sue and Debra are colleagues again -- sharing a large, open area style classroom at WRLC. Their partnership has come about as a result of common priorities and a shared vision of what the learning environment for their students could be like.